Quiz show queen set to return to TV"s Blockbusters after 28 years

Quiz show queen set to return to TV's Blockbusters after 28 yearsOne of the show's most successful contestants after scoring a maximum five Gold Runs as a teenager in 1984 and again in 1989

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UPDATED:

14:33 GMT, 22 May 2012

A woman who took Blockbusters by storm as a schoolgirl is set to return to the show after 28 years.

Claire Scott, 44, from Port Glasgow, appeared on the hit TV series twice as a teenager scoring maximum points on both occasions – the only female and Scot in the show's history to do so.

Now the mother-of-two is gearing up for further quiz success after producers of Sky's new version of the show, hosted by radio presenter Simon Mayo, invited her back.

Claire Scott says she is excited about returning to the TV quiz show Blockbusters after 28 years

Claire first starred on the programme – then presented by Bob Holness – in 1984, aged just 16.

In the run-up to the big day her mother made her read the dictionary and practice using a mock Blockbusters set in the family living room.

And her preparation paid off as she achieved the top score and was called back for the one-off Blockbusters Champions series in 1989 to win yet another five Gold Runs.

Now ahead of her a third appearance on the show, Claire, who remains Scotland’s most successful contestant, has been busy watching every TV quiz show she can.

The primary school teacher said: 'I've done the show twice before but I was still quite excited and a bit nervous when they asked me to come back. It's more than 25 years ago so it's part of family history now.

'I've been watching every quiz show on the telly without fail. I'll need to work on my current affairs because I don't watch as much TV as I did back then.'

Trivia queen: Claire with Bob Holness after claiming victory on the 1990 Champion Blockbusters show

During her memorable appearance in 1984 dressed in her school uniform, Claire mentioned that she collected stamps and after the show was broadcast she received bags of letters from all over the world.

She said: 'Getting on TV back then was the holy grail – not like nowadays when everybody seems to get their 15 minutes of fame – so when I did get it, it was a big deal.

'Although it didn't air here until January 1985, it aired in different parts of the UK at different times.

Flashback: Claire on Blockbusters in 1984 aged 16

'It went out in other areas in November and December 1984 and I got all sorts of things through the post and even ended up with pen-pals.

'I said on the show that I collected stamps so I got literally thousands of stamps sent to me.'

She then went on to star on Champion Blockbusters in 1990 and incredibly got the answer to the killer question by reading an article in a magazine that she'd found on the train on her way to the studio.

She said: 'I remember getting a question about physics – what attracts positive ions – and we had just done it in school so I was able to say 'anodes' and got it right.

'Another question that time was 'what was the family name of Lord Longford' and I'd read an article in a magazine I found on the train in the way down about him, so I got that one right too.'

The winning teacher is now waiting to hear back from show bosses on the current series after agreeing to put herself up for a third time.

She added: 'I was delighted when the producers approached me and asked me to apply for the show again. I'm just waiting to be given a date.

'It's brought back some lovely memories – the music, the set and the original host Bob Holness, who died in January. He was one of the most genuine guys I've ever met.

'He was a real joker and always had this jar of peppermints with him. I remember one time, we were just about to go one and he asked me if I'd like a sweetie.

'Of course I took one and then the lights went down and he was killing himself laughing wondering what I was going to do with this sweetie, which I just had to throw under my seat.

'He really thought the contestants were the stars of the show and he never stayed in his dressing room when you were there – he would come out and have lunch with you.'

Holness, who hosted the cult daytime quiz show died at the age of 83 on January 6 2012. His broadcasting career spanned almost 60 years.